Background: If the weakness of the knee muscles persists and there is pain at the same time, lumbar mobilization can be used. Objectives: This study investigated the immediate effect of lumbar joint mobilization on postural sway and knee pain in elite volleyball players. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twelve male elite volleyball players were recruited for this study. Lumbar joint mobilization was performed in all study subjects. Evaluation items were static and dynamic balance and knee pain change. All evaluations were made immediately after the intervention. Results: C90 area, trace length, and STD Y deviation in the open static balance were significantly decreased after intervention (P<.05). C90 area, trace length, Velocity, STD X deviation, and STD Y deviation in static balance with closed eyes decreased significantly after intervention (P<.05). In dynamic balance, the left and right side. COPs were significantly increased. Pain significantly decreased after intervention (P<.05). Conclusion: This study found that lumbar joint mobilization is an effective method for improving postural sway and knee pain in elite volleyball players.

Background: Low back pain is a very common musculoskeletal disorder. Since low back pain can indicate physical and psychological problems, reducing the pain level of low back pain can be the primary goal of rehabilitation. Objectives: This study was performed to explain the personalized treatment protocol of Maitland orthopedic physiotherapy based on the brick wall concept for low back pain patients with hypomobility. Design: Randomized controlled study. Methods: A total of 14 chronic low back pain patients were divided into two groups. The experimental group received orthopedic manual physical therapy intervention. The control group received traditional physical therapy intervention. After the 3 days intervention, the joint range of motion and pain of the low back were measured. Results: The low back flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation joint range of motion was significantly increased in the experimental group than in the control group (P<.05). Low back pain was significantly reduced in the experimental group than in the control group (P<.05). Conclusion: It was confirmed that Maitland orthopedic physical therapy was an effective method as an intervention method to improve the joint range of motion and pain of chronic low back pain patients.

Operating and decommissioning nuclear power plants generates radioactive waste. This radioactive waste can be categorized into several different levels, for example, low, intermediate, and high, according to the regulations. Currently, low and intermediate-level waste are stored in conventional 200-liter drums to be disposed. However, in Korea, the disposal of intermediate-level radioactive waste is virtually impossible as there are no available facilities. Furthermore, large-sized intermediate- level radioactive waste, such as reactor internals from decommissioning, need to be segmented into smaller sizes so they can be adequately stored in the conventional drums. This segmentation process requires additional costs and also produces secondary waste. Therefore, this paper suggests repurposing the no-longer-used spent nuclear fuel casks. The casks are larger in size than the conventional drums, thus requiring less segmentation of waste. Furthermore, the safety requirements of the spent nuclear fuel casks are severer than those of the drums. Hence, repurposed spent nuclear fuel casks could better address potential risks such as dropping, submerging, or a fire. In addition, the spent nuclear fuel casks need to be disposed in compliance with the regulations for low level radioactive waste. This cost may be avoided by repurposing the casks.

Nuclear power plant decommissioning generates significant concrete waste, which is slightly contaminated, and expected to be classified as clearance concrete waste. Clearance concrete waste is generally crushed into rubble at the site or a satellite treatment facility for practical disposal purposes. During the process, workers are exposed to radiation from the nuclides in concrete waste. The treatment processes consist of concrete cutting/crushing, transportation, and loading/unloading. Workers’ radiation exposure during the process was systematically studied. A shielding package comprising a cylindrical and hexahedron structure was considered to reduce workers’ radiation exposure, and improved the treatment process’s efficiency. The shielding package’s effect on workers’ radiation exposure during the cutting and crushing process was also studied. The calculated annual radiation exposure of concrete treatment workers was below 1 mSv, which is the annual radiation exposure limit for members of the public. It was also found that workers involved in cutting and crushing were exposed the most.

Major accidents at nuclear power plants generate huge amounts of radioactive waste in a short period of time over a wide area outside the plant boundary. Therefore, extraordinary efforts are required for safe management of the waste. A well-established remediation plan including radioactive waste management that is prepared in advance will minimize the impact on the public and environment. In Korea, however, only limited plans exist to systematically manage this type of off-site radioactive waste generating event. In this study, we developed basic strategies for off-site radioactive waste management based on recommendations from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and NCRP (National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements), experiences from the Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan, and a review of the national radioactive waste management system in Korea. These strategies included the assignment of roles and responsibilities, development of management methodologies, securement of storage capacities, preparation for the use of existing infrastructure, assurance of information transparency, and establishment of cooperative measures with international organizations.

목적 : 본 연구는 소아·청소년의 나트륨 섭취와 굴절 이상 사이의 연관성을 조사하였다. 방법 : 본 연구에서는 2016년 국민건강영양조사에 5~18세 소아·청소년 968명의 데이터를 사용하였다. 나트 륨 섭취량은 24시간 식단 회상에서 식품 항목에 대한 데이터로 측정하였다. 굴절 이상은 우안의 등가구면 굴절력 (SE)을 사용하였다. 잠재적인 교란 요인을 조정한 후 로지스틱 회귀 분석을 사용하여 나트륨 섭취와 굴절 이상 간 의 연관성을 분석하였다. 결과 : 나트륨 섭취량과 굴절 이상은 상관관계가 있었고(p<0.001), 나트륨 섭취가 높을수록 굴절 이상도 함께 높은 것으로 나타났다(p<0.001). 특히 나트륨 섭취량은 근시에서 유의하게 높았다. 잠재적인 교란 요인을 보정한 후 다변량 로지스틱 회귀 분석에서 높은 나트륨 섭취가 근시 위험 증가와 유의하게 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났다 (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.12-2.33, p=0.010). 결론 : 국내 소아·청소년의 나트륨 섭취와 굴절 이상 사이에 유의한 연관성이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 높 은 나트륨 섭취량은 근시와 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났다.

목적: 국내에서 판매되는 4개 제조사의 15개 제품들의 소프트 콘택트렌즈 간의 새그깊이 차이를 비교해보고 렌즈들 이 상대적으로 가파른지 혹은 편평한지에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 방법 : 식염수가 포함된 폴리스티렌 재질의 사각페트리디쉬와 기준선이 있는 기준체를 사용하여 소프트 콘택트 렌즈의 새그깊이를 사진 촬영을 통해서 측정하였다. 사용된 콘택트렌즈는 시중에서 판매되는 -3.00 D인 15개 제 품의 소프트 콘택트렌즈이었다. 결과 : 측정된 렌즈의 새그깊이는 3.68±0.16 mm로 3.42~3.96 mm의 범위를 보여 주었다. 계산된 렌즈의 새그깊이는 3.67±0.15 mm이었고, 일부 렌즈에서 상대적으로 큰 차이가 있었다. 측정된 새그깊이 별 계산된 기 본커브는 8.58±0.16 mm이었고, 제조 회사의 제시된 기본커브는 8.59+0.12 mm 이었다. 일부 렌즈에서 상대적 으로 큰 차이가 있었다. 결론 : 국내에서 판매되는 15개의 소프트 콘택트렌즈 제품들의 새그깊이 차이를 비교할 수 있었고, 측정된 새 그깊이와 그에 따른 계산된 기본커브를 통해 렌즈들이 상대적으로 가파른지 혹은 편평한지에 대한 추가적인 정보 를 얻을 수 있었다.